SANDERS CUP CONTEST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20643, 15 February 1929, Page 10

SANDERS CUP CONTEST.

FIRST RACE ABANDONED. FOUR BOATS CAPSIZE. (From Our Special Reporter.) AKAROA, February 14. Struck by the full force of a strong south-west squall which swept down Akaroa Harbour 15 minutes after the start of the first race for the Sanders Cup, four boats capsized, and the fifth just managed to keep on an even keel. It was the most sensational yachting incident that has occurred, since the inception of the contest. Akaroa simmered in the heat of a summer’s day, not a breath of wind in the morning, and the waters of the harbour like a sheet of glass. Visitors and residents discarded every extra garment and sought protection from the glaring rays of a hot sun. Residents predicted that a change in the weather was likely to occur at any minute, stating that the calm conditions might end in what is known as a south-west buster. It was hard to credit such a prediction, but visitors to Akaroa are now convinced that the weather experienced here has remarkable peculiarities. The race was fixed to start at 2 p.m., and when the boats were sent away five minutes after that hour the breeze was very light from the south-west. All the boats carried the lightest crews, three in each craft. It was a splendid start, Avalon crossing the line at gunfire, closely followed by Murihiku 11, Colleen, Eileen, and Clyde. Each boat carried leading jibs, and these sails were dispensed with only a minute or two before disaster overtook the fleet. The Auckland boat quickly established a big lead, and was increasing her lead every minute. The course was a windward and leeward one, giving the boats a beat to a mark off Wainui Island, on the west shore of the harbour, two and a-ha!f miles from the starting line. The boats were to sail twice round th e course, a total distance of 10 miles. When the fleet cleared Green Point, at the south end' of French Bay, the water suddenly became very rough and the wind increased in force. Avalon was then far ahead in the centre of the harbour, while the other four boats were sailing towards the main harbour on the starboard tack.

Without any warning the squall which was responsible for the sensational abandonment of the race swept across the harbour. The skippers were caught unprepared and in a flash the Clyde turned bottom upwards, and Murihiku did likewise a moment later and Eileen spilled her crew almost at the same moment, the Otago boat turning her keel to the sky. The Auckland skipper made a splendid attempt to keep his boat afloat. Avalon was thrown on her' beamends. The crew made a desperate attempt to lower the main sail, but failed, and the next moment the Auckland crew were spilled into the water and Avalon turned her keel upside down. The Canterbury boat, Colleen, was the only boat to weather the storm, being well to leeward of the other boats. The Canterbury skipper saw Clyde, Murihiku, Eileen and Avalon meet with disand it was a warning to him. Morrison heeded the warning, but the squall struck Colleen just as the mainsail was lowered. He ran the boat before the squall under the jib, and just managed to keep her afloat, . Less than 30 seconds elapsed from the time the first and last boat capsized. Fortunately the judges and several other launches were in handy positions, and in some cases two and three launches raced to the rescue of the crews. Some of the men could be seen astride the keels of the boats, while others were seen swimming around the submerged craft or clinging to the floating rigging. The crews were collected and brought ashore, but some time elapsed before Avalon, Clyde,. Murihiku and Eileen were secured and towed back to the boatshed. Avalon was badly damaged. The three top planks near tbe_ chain plate on the port side were split, about three feet of the port decking was sprung, and the bowsprit was smashed. This damage was caused by the rescuing 'launch coming to the windward of Avalon, bumping her, and then going over the Auckland boat. Several small holes were also torn in the Avalon’s sails. A professional boatbuilder from .Wellington and G. Andrews effected repairs to-night. The other boats were not damaged. Such a sensational ending of what pj oimsed to be a splendid race was very disappointing to the spectators, as when the breeze came away light and steady at 2 p.m. the five boats were sailing on an even keel in smooth water. The race will be resailed to-morrow, starting at 10 a.m. °

The Otago boat was holding third position when the mishap occurred, and Kellett was sailing a good race. Avalon’s position indicated that she would have secured an easy win. Xhe boat was on' the wind- all the time, and her new skipper, Willetts, handled her with skill.